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CHINA 


QUESTIONS  AND  ANSWERS 


FOE  “ 

MISSION  CIRCLES  AND  BANDS. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

WOMAN’S  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 
OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 


No.  1334  Chestnut  Street. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


https://archive.org/details/chinaquestionsanOOunse 


CHINA. 


QUESTIONS  AND  ANSWERS 

FOR 

MISSION  CIRCLES  AND  BANDS. 


Q.  What  are  some  of  the  names  by  which 
China  is  known  ? 

Cathay,  the  Middle  Kingdom,  the  Flowery  Land, 
the  Celestial  Empire  and  the  Land  of  Sinim. 

Q.  How  ancient  are  its  records  ? 

They  reach  farther  back  than  the  time  of 
Abraham. 

Q.  What  are  the  great  divisions  of  the  Chinese 
Empire  ? 

China  Proper,  Manchuria,  Mongolia,  Thibet, 
East  Turkestan  and  Jungaria. 

Q.  How  many  people  are  there  in  the  Empire  ? 

The  number  is  variously  estimated  from  three 
hundred  and  fifty  millions  to  four  hundred  mil- 
lions. 


4 


Q.  Can  you  illustrate  this  great  number,  so  that 
we  can  understand  it  better? 

Make  an  army  of  them,  and  let  them  move 
before  you  at  the  rate  of  thirty  miles  a day,  week 
after  week,  month  after  month,  and  they  will  not 
pass  in  less  than  twenty-three  and  a half  years ; 
or  if  all  the  people  in  the  world  should  march 
in  a single  line,  every  fourth  person  would  be  a 
Chinese. 

Q.  How  many  Chinese  are  estimated  to  die 
every  day  ? 

Thirty-three  thousand. 

Q.  What  is  China  Proper  ? 

That  part  of  the  empire,  which  was  conquered 
by  the  Manchus  or  Tartars  in  1664.  It  is  divided 
into  eighteen  provinces,  and  is  the  only  part  of  the 
empire  settled  by  Chinese. 

Q.  How  does  China  Proper  compare  in  size 
with  the  whole  empire,  and  with  the  United 
States  ? 

It  comprises  one  half  the  area  of  the  empire, 
and  is  about  equal  to  twenty-eight  of  our  states. 

Q.  Name  the  provinces  where  the  missionaries 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  are  stationed  ? 

The  provinces  of  Chihli*  containing  Peking; 


* All  Chinese  names  of  two  syllables  are  accented  on  the 
second  syllable. 


5 


Shantung  containing  Chefoo  and  Tungchow; 
Kiangsu  containing  Nanking,  Suchow  and 
Shanghai ; Chekiang  containing  Hangchow  and 
Ningpo  ; and  Kwangtong  containing  Canton. 

Q.  What  is  the  climate  of  China  ? 

In  Peking  the  winters  are  very  cold  and  the 
summers  hot;  in  Ningpo  the  winters  are  mild, 
but  they  have  a great  deal  of  rain,  and  much 
miasma  in  the  summer  and  autumn ; in  Canton 
they  have  a long  summer,  and  need  no  stove  heat 
in  the  winter. 

Q.  Do  the  Chinese  use  stoves  for  warmth  ? 

At  Ningpo  they  use  only  foot  and  hand  stoves. 
In  North  China,  they  have  the  hang,  or  raised 
mason-work  bed  which  is  heated  by  burning  straw 
inside  of  it.  They  also  have  in  Peking  an  open 
furnace  in  which  they  burn  coal  or  charcoal. 
Sometimes  whole  families  are  suffocated  by  the 
carbonic  acid  gas  which  is  often  allowed  to  pass 
freely  into  the  room  where  they  are  sleeping. 

Q.  Of  what  do  the  Chinese  build  their  houses  ? 

In  the  cities  they  are  of  grey  brick,  built 
around  an  open  court  on  which  the  doors  and. 
windows  open.  In  the  villages  the  houses  are 
often  built  of  mud  with  thatched  roofs,  and  the 
floors  are  of  earth  which  has  been  beaten  hard. 


6 


Q.  Do  they  have  glass  windows  ? 

Not  often.  Their  windows  are  of  paper  pasted 
over  lattice-work,  or  of  oyster  shells  scraped  thin. 

Q.  What  is  the  ordinary  food  of  the  Chinese  ? 

Rice,  salt  fish  and  vegetables.  Meat  is  a 
luxury.  In  North  China  they  eat  corn-meal 
and  millet  cakes,  sweet  potatoes,  etc. 

Q.  Do  they  use  milk  or  beef? 

No.  They  do  not  use  milk  in  any  form,  and 
they  think  it  wrong  to  kill  the  cow  or  water  buf- 
falo (which  is  more  common)  because  they  are 
used  in  tilling  the  ground. 

Q.  What  valuable  plants  and  trees  have  they 
that  we  have  not  ? 

The  tea-plant,  the  camphor-tree,  the  bamboo, 
the  varnish-tree,  wax-trees,  soap-tree,  tallow-tree 
and  li-chee. 

Q.  What  valuable  insect  gives  employment  to 
multitudes  of  men,  women  and  children  ? 

The  silk- worm. 

Q.  What  kinds  of  game  are  found  in  China  ? 

Beautiful  gold  and  silver  pheasants,  wild  ducks, 
grouse,  quail  and  deer. 

Q.  Mention  some  of  the  customs  of  the  people 
which  are  directly  opposed  to  those  of  Europeans. 

“We  shake  a friend’s  hand;  the  Chinaman 


1 


shakes  his  own  hands.  We  uncover  the  head  as  a 
mark  of  respect;  they  keep  the  head  covered. 
We  cut  our  finger  nails  ; they  think  it  aristocratic 
to  have  the  nails  from  three  to  five  inches  long, 
often  protecting  them  with  a silver  sheath.  We 
blacken  our  shoes,  they  whiten  the  soles  of  their 
shoes.” 

Q.  Mention  some  contrasts  in  wedding  customs. 

u Here  young  people  prefer  to  do  their  own 
courting ; there  the  parents,  with  the  help  of  go- 
betweens,  select  the  husbands  and  wives  for  their 
children,  and  these  often  do  not  see  each  other  till 
the  wedding  is  over.” 

Q.  Give  some  contrasts  in  funeral  customs. 

u A coffin  would  not  be  considered  a very  ac- 
ceptable present  here,  but  in  China  a coffin  is 
often  given  to  a parent  or  friend  while  in  perfect 
health.”  Our  mourning  dress  is  black,  theirs  is 
white. 

Q.  Mention  a few  more  differences. 

“ Here  a mother  shows  her  affection  by  kissing 
her  child,  there  by  smelling  it.  We  locate  intellect 
in  the  brain,  they  in  the  stomach.  We  use  a soft 
pillow ; they,  a block  of  wrood.  Our  store  signs 
are  horizontal,  theirs  are  perpendicular.  They 
ring  bells  by  striking  on  the  outside,  and  their 
screws  turn  in  the  opposite  direction  to  ours.  ” 


Q.  Give  Wong  Ning’s  experience  illustrating 
other  customs. 

“My  name  Wong  Ning.  I come  this  country 
thirteen  years  old.  Little  boy  have  hard  time  on 
home  China.  Have  to  get  up  and  go  school  six 
o’clock — very  early  that — come  home  get  break- 
fast eight  o’clock,  and  lunch  twelve  o’clock  then 
stay  till  six  o’clock  in  the  day.  I no  think  Melican 
boy  like  that.  Little  girl  no  go  school  at  all. 
Little  girl  no  speak  to  boy — no!  never ! If  China 
boy  no  like  mother,  no  work  hard  for  she,  no  send 
she  everything.  Oh!  horrible!  very  bad!  All 
sons  marry,  bring  home  wife  to  wait  on  she.  No 
like  wife  so  much  as  mother  on  home  China. 
Woman,  wife,  little  girl  all  work  in  house,  sew, 
cook,  weave  cloth.  When  make  dinner,  set  table 
very  nice,  then  run  behind  curtain — then  father, 
son,  little  boy,  all  come  in,  sit  down,  eat  dinner, 
eat  him  all  up.  By  and  by  woman,  little  girls 
come  quiet,  lift  curtain,  if  he  all  gone,  can  come 
eat,  if  no,  cannot  come.” 

Q.  Describe  the  process  of  foot  binding? 

The  compression  of  the  foot  is  never  begun 
until  the  girls  have  learned  to  walk,  generally  not 
before  five  or  six  years  of  age.  A cotton  bandage 
two  or  three  inches  wide  is  wound  tightly  about 
the  foot  in  every  direction.  This  bandage  is 
tightened  until  the  foot  is  considered  small  enough. 


9 


The  foot  is  then  in  the  shape  of  an  acute  angled 
triangle,  and  the  toes  bent  under  the  foot.  A shoe 
worn  by  a woman  twenty-two  years  old,  measured 
three  inches  on  the  flat  sole,  from  the  tip  of  the 
toe  to  the  heels. 

Q.  What  are  the  principal  exports  from  China  ? 

Tea,  silk,  medicines  and  fire-crackers. 

Q.  The  principal  imports  ? 

Cotton  goods,  kerosene  and  opium. 

Q.  Do  intoxicating  liquors  attract  the  Chinese  ? 

Very  little.  A drunken  Chinaman  is  rarely 
seen,  but  opium  seems  to  have  more  attractions 
for  them  than  for  any  other  people. 

Q.  What  effect  has  it  upon  them  ? 

It  ruins  them  in  mind,  body  .and  estate. 

Q.  To  what  extent  is  it  used? 

It  has  been  said  that  one-quarter  of  the  adult 
male  population  is  addicted  to  opium  smoking. 

Q.  What  is  meant  by  the  Opium  War? 

The  war  of  1840,  which  began  in  this  way. 
English  merchants  had  for  years  been  bringing 
opium  into  China.  The  mandarins  (officials)  found 
that  it  was  injuring  and  impoverishing  the  people, 
and  tried  in  every  way  to  stop  the  trade.  At 
length  a mandarin  in  Canton,  called  Lin,  com- 


]0 


pelled  the  English  merchants  to  give  up  all  the 
opium  they  had  on  hand.  Twenty  thousand  two 
hundred  and  eighty  chests  were  given  up,  and  the 
Chinese  destroyed  them  all,  thus  showing  their 
earnestness  in  suppressing  the  traffic.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  the  English  declared  war  against 
China.  The  Chinese  were  defeated  and  had  to 
pay  to  Great  Britain,  for  the  expenses  of  the  war, 
twenty-one  million  dollars,  and  opium  was  forced 
upon  them. 

Q.  What  good  results  followed  this  war  ? 

Amoy,  Foochow,  Ningpo  and  Shanghai  were 
by  treaty  opened  to  trade  and  consequently  to  mis- 
sionaries. 

Q.  Are  these  the  only  ports  open  to  foreigners  ? 

No.  In  1861,  after  another  war  with  England, 
ten  more  ports  were  opened. 

Q.  What  is  the  name  of  the  present  emperor 
of  China? 

Kwongsu. 

Q.  When  did  he  ascend  the  throne  ? 

In  January,  1875,  at  the  age  of  five  years. 

Q.  To  what  dynasty  does  he  belong  ? 

He  is  the  ninth  emperor  of  the  Tartar  dynasty 
of  Ts'ing. 


11 


Q.  When  did  the  Tartars  come  into  power? 

When  they  conquered  the  Chinese  in  1644. 

Q.  How  did  the  plaited  queue  originate  ? 

It  was  imposed  upon  the  Chinese  as  a badge  of 
subjection  by  their  conquerors,  the  Tartars. 

Q.  Why  are  they  so  unwilling  to  cut  off  the 
queue  in  this  country  ? 

Because  if  they  return  to  China,  as  they  all 
hope  to  do,  they  will  be  regarded  as  rebels. 

Q.  What  was  the  Ming  dynasty  ? 

The  last  of  the  Chinese  emperors  were  called 
Mings.  Their  tombs,  a few  days’  journey  from 
Peking,  are  exceedingly  interesting.  Great-stone 
images  of  camels,  elephants,  etc.,  stand  on  either 
side  of  the  avenue  which  leads  to  the  tombs. 

Q.  Who  were  the  Taipings  ? 

A *set.  of  Rebels  who  wished  to  put  down  the 
Tartars  and  place  the  Chinese  again  upon  the 
throne.  They  wore  their  hair  long,  and  unshaven, 
and  so  were  called  Long-haired  Rebels.  For 
many  years  they  devastated  the  country,  destroy- 
ing city  after  city,  and  butchering  thousands  upon 
thousands  of  the  people. 

Q.  Who  was  their  leader  ? 

A man  from  the  province  of  Kwangse,  calling 
himself  Tin  Wong,  or  Heavenly  King. 


12 


Q.  What  do  we  know  of  him  ? 

He  had  learned  something  of  Jesus  Christ  and 
the  Sabbath  from  a missionary  in  Canton.  These 
ideas  he  mingled  with  his  own  strange  fancies,  and 
blasphemously  called  himself  the  Son  of  God. 

Q.  Who  helped  to  subdue  the  Taipings  ? 

Gen.  Gordon,  often  called  Chinese  Gordon. 

Q.  When  was  this  Rebellion  quelled? 

In  the  year  1864  after  the  fall  of  Nanking.  The 
famous  Porcelain  Tower,  nine  stories  high,  was 
then  destroyed. 

Q.  Was  the  art  of  printing  early  known  in 
China? 

Yes.  It  was  understood  nine  hundred  years 
before  it  was  in  Europe. 

Q.  What  curious  way  have  the  Chinese  of  reck- 
oning ages,  etc.? 

If  a child  is  born  on  the  last  day  of  1883,  on 
the  first  day  of  1885  they  would  say,  he  is  three 
years  old,  because  he  has  lived  in  three  years, 
while  really  he  is  only  one  year  old.  For  this 
reason  the  little  Emperor  may  only  have  been 
three  years  old  instead  of  five  at  his  accession. 
We  can  only  tell  by  knowing  in  what  part  of  the 
year  he  was  born. 


13 


Q.  Give  another  example  of  this  peculiarity. 

If  you  hire  a boat  Thursday  afternoon  and  re- 
turn it  Saturday  morning,  you  must  pay  for  its 
use  for  three  full  days  instead  of  a day  and  a half. 

Q.  Do  you  remember  anything  similar  to  this 
in  the  Bible? 

Yes.  Jesus  Christ  was  said  to  be  in  the  grave 
three  days,  when  really  he  was  there  only  a whole 
day  and  a night. 

Q.  What  are  the  three  principal  religions  of 
China  ? 

Confucianism,  Buddhism  and  Taoism.* 

Q.  What  form  of  religion,  which  is  included  in 
these  three  systems,  has  more  power  over  all 
classes  of  Chinese  than  any  other? 

Ancestral  worship. 

Q.  Define  it. 

“ It  includes  not  only  the  direct  worship  of  the 
dead,  but  all  that  is  done  for  their  comfort,  and 
all  that  is  done  to  avert  calamities  which  departed 
spirits  are  supposed  to  bring  upon  the  living  as  a 
punishment  for  inattention  to  their  necessities.” 

Q.  What  singular  thing  grew  out  of  this  ? 

At  the  death  of  an  emperor,  even  if  he  is  very 
young,  his  successor  must  be  younger  than  he,  be- 

* Pronounced  like  ow  in  how. 


14 


cause  lie  must  worship  his  predecessor,  and  this 
sort  of  worship  is  never  rendered  by  the  elder  to 
the  younger.  The  late  emperor  Tung  Chi  died 
young,  without  children.  Prince  Kong,  an  able 
statesman,  was  the  right,  one  to  succeed  him,  but 
because  he  was  older  than  the  late  king,  little 
Kwongsu  more  distantly  related,  was  placed  upon 
the  throne  and  the  empire  under  a regency  of  two 
dowager  Empresses,  one  of  whom  has  since  died. 

Q.  Where  and  when  was  Confucius  born  ? 

In  the  Shantung  Province,  551  B.  C. 

Q.  With  whofn  was  he  contemporary  ? 

With  the  prophet  Daniel. 

Q.  Tell  something  of  his  life. 

He  was  a poor  boy,  who  always  regarded  his 
mother  with  affectionate  reVerence.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-two  he  taught  history  and  the  writings 
of  the  ancients.  He  studied  much  and  became 
famous  as  a teacher.  Disciples  flocked  to  him 
from  all  regions. 

Q.  Did  he  become  a magistrate  ? 

Yes ; and  he  ruled  so  wisely  that  he  was  idolized 
by  the  people:  then  jealousies  drove  him  from 
home,  and  he  wandered  thirteen  years  in  neighbor- 
ing states.  At  the  age  of  seventy-three  he  died, 
showing  no  fear,  offering  no  prayer. 


15 


Q.  Did  lie  believe  in  the  gods  or  teach  idol 
worship  ? 

No.  He  said  “We  do  not  understand  the  gods, 
it  is  best  not  to  meddle  with  them.  ” 

Q.  Did  he  profess  to  teach  anything  about  the 
future  ? 

No.  He  said  “Let  us  make  the  best  we  can  of 
the  present ; we  know  nothing  of  what  is  beyond.” 

Q.  What  did  Confucius  say  of  man’s  nature  ? 

That  it  is  naturally  good. 

Q.  What  did  he  teach  about  women  ? 

That  they  have  no  souls. 

Q.  Hive  his  form  of  the  golden  rule. 

“ What  you  do  not  wish  done  to  yourself,  do 
not  do  to  others.  ” 

Q.  What  class  of  people  are  Confucianists  ? 

All  the  literary  men  of  China.  Every  boy  who 
goes  to  school  must  bow  to  the  tablet  with  Con- 
fucius’ name  on  it. 

Q.  Is  his  image  worshiped  ? 

Not  at  all. 

Q.  When  did  Buddha,  the  founder  of  Buddhism, 
live? 

A thousand  years  before  Christ. 


16 


Q.  How  did  Buddhism  come  into  China  ? 

The  Emperor  Mingti  (A.  D.  61)  had  a dream, 
which  led  him  to  send  to  India  for  books  and 
teachers. 

Q.  What  was  the  result  ? 

In  the  course  of  years  over  three  thousand 
Buddhist  missionaries  went  to  China,  and  Budd- 
hism became  the  religion  of  the  people. 

Q.  How  does  this  compare  with  what  is  now 
being  done  by  Christians  for  China  ? 

All  the  richest  Protestant  nations  of  the  world 
only  maintain  four  hundred  male  missionaries  in 
China,  one  for  every  million  of  people. 

Q.  What  is  the  great  doctrine  of  the  Buddhists? 

Transmigration  of  souls,  or  the  passing  of  a 
soul  from  one  body  or  state  to  another. 

Q.  Do  true  Buddhists  eat  meat? 

No;  and  they  fear  to  kill  an  animal,  as  they 
might  destroy  some  soul  who  inhabits  it. 

Q.  What  is  Taoism  ? 

A system  of  magical  rites  and  charms.  It  has 
a great  many  gods,  as  the  god  of  wealth,  god 
of  war,  of  thunder,  of  small-pox,  the  kitchen 
god,  etc.,  etc. 


17 


Q.  What  is  really  the  religion  of  most  of  the 
Chinese  ? 

A mixture  of  the  corrupt  forms  of  all  these 
three  religions.  A man  can  be  a Confucianist,  a 
Taoist,  and  a Buddhist  at  the  same  time. 

Q.  What  do  you  think  about  the  so  called  filial 
piety  of  the  Chinese? 

That  it  is  often  a sham,  because  more  attention 
is  paid  to  the  dead  than  to  the  living  parent. 

Q.  Give  a story  illustrating  their  ideas  of  filial 
piety. 

There  was  once  a boy  named  Han.  He  often 
misbehaved,  and  his  mother  beat  him  with  a bam- 
boo rod.  One  day  he  cried  after  the  beating  : his 
mother  was  greatly  surprised  and  said,  I have 
beaten  you  many  a time  before  and  you  have 
never  cried,  why  do  you  cry  to-day?  “Oh,  mother, 
he  replied,  you  used  to  hurt  me  when  you  flogged 
me  but  now  I weep  because  you  are  not  strong 
enough  to  hurt  me.”  It  makes  one  weep,  says  the 
Chinese  moralist,  even  to  read  the  story. 

Q.  Give  the  story  of  dutiful  Loo. 

A man  named  Loo  was  very  dutiful  to  his 
mother.  She  was  a very  nervous  woman,  and  al- 
ways dreadfully  frightened  in  a thunder  storm. 
When  she  died,  Loo  buried  her  in  a wood,  and 


18 


whenever  the  wind  rose  and  a tempest  threatened, 
he  ran  to  the  tomb,  knelt  down  and  with  tears 
cried  out,  “Loo  is  near  you,  don’t  be  afraid, 
mother.” 

Q.  When  did  the  Roman  Catholics  enter  China  ? 

In  the  thirteenth  century. 

Q.  Who  was  the  most  successful  of  their  mis- 
sionaries? 

Matteo  Ricci  (pronounced  Richie.) 

Q.  What  were  his  methods  ? 

So  anxious  was  he  to  please  the  Chinese,  that 
he  drew  a map  of  the  world,  and  placed  China  in 
the  centre  and  other  countries  in  the  margin.  He 
even  combined  the  teachings  of  Confucius  with 
those  of  Jesus  Christ.  After  twenty  years  of 
patient  toil,  he  obtained  access  to  the  Emperor. 
In  the  ten  years  that  followed  multitudes  of  all 
ranks  were  baptized. 

Q.  Did  the  Roman  Catholics  translate  the  Bible 
into  Chinese? 

They  did  not. 

Q.  How  many  priests,  colleges  and  convents  do 
they  report  now? 

Six  hundred  European  priests,  about  as  many 
Chinese  priests,  and  seventy  colleges  and  convents. 


19 


MISSIONS. 

Q.  Who  was  the  first  Protestant  Missionary  to 
China  ? 

Dr.  Robert  Morrison,  sent  out  in  1807,  by  the 
London  Missionary  Society. 

Q.  What  was  his  great  work  ? 

The  translation  of  the  Bible  into  Chinese. 

Q.  What  are  the  three  missions  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  China  ? 

The  Ningpo  mission,  founded  by  Dr.  McCartee 
in  1844;  the  Canton  Mission,  begun  by  Dr.  Hap- 
per  and  others  in  1845,  and  the  Peking  Mission 
begun  at  Chefoo,  by  Dr.  Nevius  in  1861. 

Q.  What  five  large  cities  are  included  in  the 
Ningpo  Mission? 

Ningpo,  Shanghai,  Hangchow,  Suchow  and 
Nanking. 

Q.  What  can  you  tell  of  interest  about  the 
Ningpo  Mission? 

It  comprises  thirteen  ch*urches,  each  having  a 
Chinese  minister. 


20 


Q.  Have  most  of  these  men  had  a thorough 
training? 

Yes,  in  the  Boarding  school,  and  afterwards  in 
the  Theological  class. 

Q.  What  did  Dr.  Nevius  once  say  of  the  schools 
of  Ningpo? 

That  while  they  had  received  only  one-fourth 
of  the  time  and  labor  of  the  missionaries,  they 
had  furnished  more  than  one-half  of  the  church 
members. 

Q.  What  great  help  to  missionary  work  do  we 
find  in  Shanghai? 

The  large  Presbyterian  Mission  Press,  where 
under  the  superintendance  of  a missionary,  eighty 
Chinamen  are  employed  in  printing  books  for  the 
different  missions  in  China. 

Q.  What  departments  are  there  in  the  building? 

There  are  eight  presses,  a type  foundry,  elec- 
ttrotyping  and  stereotyping  rooms  and  a book- 
bindery. 

Q.  Does  the  press  cost  the  Board  anything? 

Not  only  does  it  pay  its  own  expenses  and  those 
of  the  missionary  in  charge,  but  it  brings  money 
into  the  treasury. 


21 


Q.  What  interesting  work  do  we  find  at  Canton 
besides  the  regular  preaching  and  school-work? 

A Hospital,  where  Dr.  Kerr  has  treated  thou- 
sands of  patients,  and  where  these  thousands  have 
first  heard  of  the  Great  Physician. 

Q.  Mention  an  instance  showing  how  good  is 
often  done  by  hospital  work. 

Not  long  since  a man  asked  for  baptism.  He 
lived  many  miles  from  Canton  but  he  said  that 
twenty  years  before,  his  grandmother  had  been 
cured  at  the  hospital,  and  ever  since,  she  had 
given  up  her  idols  and  had  taught  her  children  to 
do  the  same. 

Q.  What  are  the  cities  or  stations,  as  we  call 
them,  included  in  the  Shantung  and  Peking  Mis- 
sions ? 

Tungchow,  Chefoo,  Peking  and  Chenanfoo. 

Q.  What  mode  of  work  has  done  great  good  in 
this  part  of  China,  called  North  China? 

Itineration,  that  is  making  long  tours,  preaching 
and  selling  books  at  all  the  towns  and  villages  by 
the  way. 

Q.  Have  many  Chinese  been  added  to  the 
church  in  this  way  ? 

Yes,  often  more  than  a hundred  have  been  added 
at  one  time. 


22 


Q . Why  are  Missionary  Physicians  very  useful 
in  China? 

On  account  of  the  extreme  ignorance  of  the 
native  doctors,  and  the  fact  that  when  the  people 
have  been  healed  they  are  more  ready  to  accept 
the  gospel. 

Q.  Do  the  Chinese  officials  show  any  interest  in 
missionary  work? 

More  in  the  medical  work  than  in  any  other. 
One  has  founded  a hospital  at  Tientsin,  (North 
China),  and  another  has  just  asked  Dr.  Atter- 
bury,  one  of  our  missionaries  in  Peking,  to  start 
a medical  college  and  send  to  America  for 
teachers..  The  officials  promise  liberal  aid  in 
putting  up  the  buildings. 

Q.  Mention  the  names  of  ten  of  our  noble  mis- 
sionaries who  have  died  working  for  China. 

The  Revs.  Walter  Lowrie,  Culbertson,  Way, 
Quarterman,  Rankin,  Reuben  Lowrie,  Preston, 
Wm.  Morrison,  Green  and  M’llvaine. 

Q.  Who  are  our  oldest  missionaries  now  in 
China? 

Rev.  Drs.  Happer  and  Nevius. 

Q.  How  many  converts  do  all  the  thirty-three 
societies  working  in  China  number? 

Twenty-four  thousand. 


23 


Q.  How  many  in  the  Presbyterian  mission  ? 

Over  two  thousand. 

Q.  What  text  impresses  some  of  the  Chinese 
more  than  it  does  many  Christian  people  in  this 
land? 

“ Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel 
to  every  creature.” 

Q.  What  did  an  old  Chinaman  say  to  Mr. 
Corbett? 

“ How  long  ago  did  you  say  Jesus  Christ  came  ?” 
“ Nearly  nineteen  hundred  years  ago.”  “Why  I 
can’t  understand  it.  What  have  your  people  been 
doing  all  this  while  ? Here  I am  eighty  years  old 
and  I never  heard  it  till  now.” 

Q.  What  did  an  aged  Chinese  woman  say  to 
the  missionary  when  asked  why  she  put  off  being 
baptized  ? 

She  said  “ I do  love  the  Lord  Jesus  and  I think 
He  has  taken  away  my  sins,  but,”  the  tears 
streaming  down  her  cheeks,  “you  know  Jesus 
said  to  His  disciples,  ‘ go  ye  into  all  the  world  and 
preach  the  gospel,’  now  I am  a poor  old  woman 
nearly  seventy,  and  nearly  blind,  I cannot  go  into 
all  the  world.” 


24 


Q.  What  did  she  say  she  could  do? 

She  said,  “ I am  willing  to  tell  my  husband  and 
son,  and  his  wife,  when  he  marries.  I am  willing 
to  tell  my  neighbors,  and  I could  perhaps  go  to 
one  or  two  villages.  Tell  me,  if  the  Lord  will 
accept  this  of  a. poor  old  woman  of  my  age?” 

Q.  What  did  the  missionary  say  ? 

u That  is  all  the  Lord  wants : He  wants  each  of 
us  to  do  our  best.”  Then  she  looked  up  with  eyes 
full  of  earnestness  and  said,  “ Tell  me,  can  I be  a 
disciple,  and  be  baptized  without  going  into 
foreign  countries?”  Yes.  “Then  I am  ready  to 
be  baptized  whenever  you  like.” 


